What happened to Nikki Bhati? Key witness Kanchan to be re-questioned over contradictory evidence in sister's death

Nikki Bhati

A fresh forensic examination of the evidence is underway in the investigation into the death of Nikki Bhati, with police set to re-question her sister, Kanchan, whose initial testimony led to murder charges against the husband and in-laws.

The decision confirmed by an officer involved in the probe, comes five days into an inquiry that has become increasingly complex, according to a TOI report. A maze of conflicting claims and the emergence of new social media videos have left investigators without clear answers, prompting a thorough re-evaluation of the events of August 21.

The original case, as reported by TOI, was built on Kanchan’s allegation that Nikki’s husband, Vipin, had set her on fire following years of dowry harassment. However, new evidence has introduced alternative scenarios. This includes CCTV footage from a street camera, previously reported by TOI, which purportedly shows Vipin standing outside the family home at the critical time.

A second video, believed to have been shot by Kanchan, captures a woman’s voice asking Nikki, "What have you done (yeh kya kar liya)?" Police confirmed they are working to verify the identity of the speaker.

These developments have made Kanchan’s re-examination critical. “We are going to re-examine Kanchan and record her statement on the video,” a senior officerwas quoted by TOI as saying, noting that while her initial statement was recorded, she has not yet been questioned about this specific piece of evidence.

Further complicating the investigation are discrepancies in the medical report. The medico-legal form from Fortis Hospital, where Nikki was first treated, stated she suffered a "burn at home due to a cooking cylinder blast." When contacted by TOI, a hospital spokesperson clarified that this information was recorded based on details provided by the patient and her family at the time. This account was corroborated by Vipin’s cousin, Devender, who claims he took Nikki to the hospital and that she herself cited a cylinder blast.

In response to the shifting public narrative, particularly online, Kanchan took to Instagram. She posted screenshots of Vipin’s alleged chats with other women and criticised those using the external CCTV footage to claim Vipin’s innocence. “It’s such a shame that just one CCTV footage has turned the entire matter around,” she wrote. She challenged critics to “try burning their own hand” if they believed Nikki was capable of self-immolation as a trap.

Meanwhile, Nikki’s cousin, Sunny Payla, has demanded police retrieve footage from internal CCTV cameras installed in the house, where the sisters ran a beauty parlour. He dismissed the cylinder blast claims as “lies” and argued that the externally circulated footage was conveniently selective and did not show the interior events.

Police have confirmed the arrest of Vipin, his parents Daya and Satveer and his elder brother Rohit, who is also Kanchan’s husband. Investigators are now verifying 10-12 statements from both families and analysing other videos, including one showing Nikki’s mother-in-law separating the couple during a fight and slapping her son, though its date is yet to be ascertained.

Another clip shows Vipin’s father performing Nikki’s last rites at a cremation that occurred early the morning after her death, a ceremony attended by his family. It was only after the cremation that Nikki’s family lodged a formal complaint, leading to the murder FIR.

“We will cross-verify all the statements… The sequence of events is being established. We are going to do a thorough investigation,” an officer was cited by TOI, underscoring the commitment to untangle a case where truth remains shrouded in conflicting evidence and grief.